The need for evidenced-based inclusive models for students with ASD is great. In February, Dr. Staci Carr and Cyndi Pitonyak had the privilege to visit the NEST for ASD model http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/asdnest/

in New York City and meet the developers Shirley Cohen and Dorothy Siegel. This program originated in New York City in 2003 and is currently used in over 150 classrooms from kindergarten through tenth grade across the city. The goal of this model is to create a therapeutic educational model that is:

both inclusive and challenging
responsive to the unique combination of strengths and challenges that these students possess
can be implemented in diverse schools and districts

In addition, Carr and Pitonyak visited PSD 112 in East Harlem and met the dynamic principal Eileen Reiter. They found a complete sense of calm across the school, all students engaged, and students with ASD actively included with their classes. Carr and Pitonyak plan to bring the NEST model to Virginia to continue to improve services and the education of students with ASD in the Commonwealth.